Adjustable railing apparatus for a vessel

ABSTRACT

An adjustable rail apparatus for a vessel includes a horizontal support member and a pair of vertical legs extending downward to an attachment unit for securing the apparatus to a vessel. Each of the vertical legs can be adjustable for allowing a height of the horizontal bar to be changed. The horizontal bar can have an adjustable length for allowing the apparatus to be mounted to a wide variety of different vessel configurations.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to safety devices for marine vessels, and more particularly to a lightweight adjustable hand rail for offshore boats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Deck rails are commonly found on marine vessels such as cruise ships and ferries to prevent passengers from falling overboard and to provide hand rails for use in heavy seas. In contrast, smaller boats and yachts must typically rely on the raised side walls and small hand holds of the vessels' outer shell to keep passengers from falling overboard. In some instances, a single curved bar is affixed to the top of the gunwale to provide something for a user to hold onto during rough seas or while walking near the edge of the deck.

With specific regard to fishing boats and other sport fishing vessels, there is often no protective railing located at or near the back portion of the boat due to possible entanglements with the fishing gear.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a boat rail apparatus capable of providing a safe experience for passengers without becoming obtrusive or detrimental to the activities of those onboard. It is also an objective of the invention to provide a boat rail apparatus that is lightweight, simple to use, and which is economical to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an adjustable rail apparatus for a vessel. One embodiment of the present invention can include a horizontal support member and a pair of vertical legs extending downward to an attachment unit for securing the apparatus to a vessel.

Another embodiment of the present invention can include the ability for both the Horizontal bar and the vertical legs to be telescopic in nature, thus allowing the apparatus to be mounted to a wide variety of different vessel configurations.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention can include a method for installing an adjustable rail apparatus in a vessel in accordance with the above noted embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a frontal elevation of adjustable railing apparatus that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of adjustable railing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 a is an expanded view of adjustable railing apparatus according to an another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of an attachment unit of the adjustable railing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an expanded view of adjustable railing apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of adjustable railing apparatus in use according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of adjustable railing apparatus in use according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method of using an adjustable railing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

Although described as for use on a boat or water going vessel, the inventive concepts disclosed herein can be equally applied to vehicles, buildings and structures of all types without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of an adjustable railing apparatus 10 that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. As shown, the rail apparatus 10 can include a horizontal support bar 11, and a pair of adjustable/telescoping leg assemblies 12 and 13, each having a attachment unit 14 secured to a bottom end thereof.

The horizontal support bar 11 acts as the top (hand rail) portion of the rail apparatus 10. Each of the adjustable legs 12 and 13 act to define the height of the rail apparatus 10 and to provide lateral support. To this end, legs 12 and 13 are positioned parallel to each other and are secured in a perpendicular relationship to the underside of the horizontal support bar 11 via rivets or other known attachment hardware.

In one preferred embodiment, each of the support bar 11, and adjustable legs 12 and 13 can have a circular cross section and can be constructed from a hardened yet lightweight material such as metal tubing or hardened plastic, for instance, each having extremely good tensile strength. Of course, other shapes and materials are also contemplated.

As further shown in FIG. 2, each of legs 12 and 13 are telescopic in nature, and thus can include: hollow outer rods 12 a and 13 a; and sliding rods 12 b and 13 b, which can slide inside the outer rod 12 a and 13 a, respectively. Additionally, each adjustable leg can further include a connecting structure for holding the sliding rod in a desired location. In one embodiment, the connecting structure can include fixing apertures 12 c and 13 c disposed both on the outer rod and the sliding rod, having screws used for locking the fixing apertures, the sliding rod and the outer rod. As such, each sliding rod 12 b and 13 b can be slid in the outer rod 12 a and 13 a, respectively, by adjusting the fixing apertures 12 c and 13 c in order to adjust the overall height of legs 12 and 13 (See arrow A).

Although described above as utilizing a fixing aperture that includes screws, the invention is not so limited, as any number of known components for securely positioning telescoping legs can be utilized without deviating from the scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Moreover, although shown with two vertical legs, this is for illustrative purposes only, as embodiments having any number of vertical legs (including a single leg, for example) can be utilized without deviating from the scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 a illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable railing apparatus 10 that further includes a jack 20 for automatically adjusting the height of the railing apparatus. In one preferred embodiment, jack 20 can include a hydraulic jack positioned within each outer rod 12 a and 13 a capable of raising and lower sliding rods 12 b and 13 b, respectively, when activated by a control switch, such as button 21. Such a unit can be powered by a direct current DC battery (not shown) specific to the device or can run off of the vessels onboard power supply. To this end, the apparatus can be self contained or integrated into the power supply of the vessel.

Although described above as including a hydraulic jack, many other known components for automatically raising and lowering the legs can be utilized without deviating from the scope of the invention. For instance, jack 20 can include hydraulic, pneumatic, DC motor, chain drive and other known elements capable of performing the required task. As each of these elements and their workings are well known in the art, no further description will be provided.

The attachment unit 14 can act to secure the rail apparatus to the deck, side wall, or gunwale of a boat or other such structure. To this end, attachment unit 14 according to one embodiment, can preferably include a metal flange secured to the bottom end of each leg 12 and 13. Each flange can include one or more openings 14 a through which a screw, bolt or other such anchoring mechanism can be utilized to securely fasten the apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an attachment unit included within the adjustable railing apparatus 10 described above. To this end, removable attachment unit 30 can include a shape that is configured to fit within the industry standard fishing rod holder 35 of a boat.

As shown, attachment unit 30 can include a mounting plate 31 for securing the top of the attachment unit to the underside of an adjustable leg 12 or 13, and an elongated rod 33 having a diameter sufficient to be securely positioned within the rod holder 35 of a boat rail 1. Owing to the fact that conventional rod holders 35 are mounted at a diagonal angle with respect to the boat rail 1, the attachment unit 30 can further include a leveling unit 32 having a handle and spindle 32 a for allowing a user to adjust the angle of the mounting plate, and hence the leg to which it is attached, in a vertical position (see arrow B).

Such a feature can allow the adjustable railing apparatus 10 to be removably attached to a boat without the need for screws or nails which can damage the surface of the vessel. Moreover, this feature allows the apparatus to be removed from the boat for safe keeping while not in use.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of an adjustable railing apparatus 10 that further includes an expandable support bar 40. As shown, support bar 40 can serve the same function as the support bar 10 described above, but can further include the ability to expand in size as illustrated by arrow C. To this end, support bar 40 can include a hollow outer bar 41, a removable bar 42 capable of sliding inside the outer bar 41 and a connecting structure 43 each operating in a manner similar to the adjustable legs 12 and 13 described above.

Such a feature can allow the adjustable railing apparatus 10 to be utilized by a variety of vessels, each having different lengths. Additionally, by including the ability to change the length of the support bar 40, it is noted that the space between each of the adjustable legs 12 and 13 is also adjusted in a corresponding manner. As such, when used in conjunction with the removable attachment unit 30, such a feature can allow the adjustable legs to be spaced to fit within the existing rod holders of a vessel, without the need for custom fabrication.

Although described above as utilizing particular materials and methods, other embodiments are also contemplated. For instance, one or more elements of the adjustable railing apparatus 10 can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, rivets, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individual elements such as the support bar 11, support bar 40, adjustable legs 12 and 13, and/or the attachment unit 14 and removable attachment unit 30, for example, may be formed together as one continuous element, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable railing apparatus 10 that further includes one or more optional rod holders 50 incorporated into the horizontal support bar 11. As shown, when installed in a boat 1, the addition of the rod holders can provide increased functionality to the apparatus 10 while still protecting the occupants from falling overboard.

FIG. 6 illustrates the adjustable railing apparatus 10 in use. As shown, the expandable support bar 40 can be extended (see arrow C) to suit the space requirements of the vessel 1. Additionally, when utilized with the removable attachment unit 30, the railing apparatus 10 can be secured to the existing rod holders 35 of the vessel, and the height of the horizontal bar 40 can be adjusted (see arrow A) based on the preference of a user. Likewise, the railing apparatus 10 can also be secured to either side of the boat 1 via attachment unit 14 as also shown.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for securing an adjustable railing apparatus as described above to a vessel.

The method can begin at step 705 in which a user can determine a preferred location for the adjustable railing to be placed.

Next, the method can proceed to step 710 where the user determines if rod holders are present in the desired location. If rod holders are not present, the method can proceed to step 715 in which a permanent attachment unit can be utilized and the apparatus can be secured to the vessel in step 720, before proceeding to step 745.

Alternatively, if rod holders are present, the method will proceed to step 725 where a removable attachment unit can be utilized. Next, in step 730, the length of the horizontal bar can be adjusted so that the distance between the vertical legs matches the separation of the rod holders.

In step 735, the removable attachment unit can be secured to the rod holder and in step 740, the angle of the vertical legs can be adjusted so they are at a 90 degree angle relative to the boat deck.

Next, the method can proceed to step 745 where the height of the horizontal bar can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the length of the vertical legs.

Although described above as being for use on an existing vessel, one of skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments disclosed herein can be incorporated into the design and manufacture of a new vessel so as to comprise an integral part of the vessel housing and/or side rail(s).

Accordingly, by incorporating the inventive concepts disclosed herein, a user can ensure passengers onboard vessels of any size are protected from falling overboard during rough seas or sporting activities. Moreover, users can easily lower the adjustable railing apparatus when easy access to the water is desired (such as while swimming, fishing or diving, for example) and then raise the railing when underway. Finally, by incorporating lightweight materials in the construction of the device, it is possible to install the adjustable railing apparatus to vessels of all sizes without creating excessive drag or excessive weight which can affect the ballast and handling of the vessel.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. An adjustable rail apparatus comprising: a horizontal support member having a top side and a bottom side; one or more vertical legs connected in an orthogonal manner to the bottom side of the horizontal support member; an attachment unit configured to secure each of the one or more vertical legs to a vessel, wherein each of the one or more vertical legs are configured to expand and contract in a vertical direction.
 2. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attachment unit is configured to permanently affix each of the one or more vertical legs to the vessel.
 3. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attachment unit is configured to removably affix each of the one or more legs to a vessel without damaging the vessel.
 4. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 3, wherein said attachment unit is configured to removably affix said one or more vertical legs to a rod holder of a vessel.
 5. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 4, wherein said attachment unit further includes a leveling unit configured to position each of the one or more legs in a vertical manner while a bottom portion of the attachment unit is inserted into the rod holder of the boat at a diagonal angle.
 6. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an automatic adjustment unit configured to automatically increase and decrease a length of the one or more vertical legs.
 7. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a switch configured to control the automatic adjustment unit.
 8. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 7, wherein said automatic adjustment unit is self powered.
 9. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 1, wherein said horizontal support member further includes a plurality of rod holders.
 10. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said horizontal support member, and said one or more vertical legs include a lightweight metallic tubular structure.
 11. An adjustable rail apparatus comprising: a horizontal support member having a top side and a bottom side, said horizontal member being telescopic; a first telescopic vertical leg connected in an orthogonal manner to one end of the bottom side of the horizontal support member; a second telescopic vertical leg connected in an orthogonal manner a second end of the bottom side of the horizontal support member, said first and second vertical legs being parallel to each other; an attachment unit configured to secure the first and second vertical leg to a vessel, wherein each of said first and second vertical legs are telescopic.
 12. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 11, wherein said attachment unit is configured to removably affix the first and second legs to a vessel without damaging the vessel.
 13. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 12, wherein said attachment unit is configured to removably affix the first and second legs to a rod holder of a vessel.
 14. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 13, wherein said attachment unit further includes a leveling unit configured to position each of the first and second legs in a vertical manner while a bottom portion of the attachment unit is inserted into the rod holder of the boat at a diagonal angle.
 15. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an automatic adjustment unit configured to automatically increase and decrease a length of the first and second vertical legs.
 16. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a switch configured to control the automatic adjustment unit.
 17. The adjustable rail apparatus of claim 16, wherein said automatic adjustment unit is self powered.
 18. A method for installing an adjustable rail apparatus in a vessel, said method comprising: determining two suitable mounting locations on a wall of a vessel; expanding a length of the horizontal support member until a first and second vertical legs are aligned with the suitable mounting location; securing each vertical leg to the mounting location via an attachment unit; and adjusting a height of the first and second vertical legs until the horizontal support member is in a desired location.
 19. The method for installing an adjustable rail apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one suitable mounting location includes a rod holder integrated into the vessel.
 20. The method for installing an adjustable rail apparatus of claim 18, wherein said adjusting is performed automatically via an automatic adjustment unit. 